**Formerly From the Riverfront to Orange Mound: Public Art Across Memphis
Travel beyond the traditional arts district on this three-hour tour exploring how public art is being used across Memphis with a different purpose in every place you visit.
See public art preserve the history of the 1968 Sanitation Workers Strike at I AM A MAN Plaza; become part of the redevelopment of South City; welcome visitors and reinforce neighborhood identity in historic Orange Mound; transform a massive piece of public infrastructure along the Chelsea Floodwall; and carry the story of an extraordinary Memphian to the banks of the Mississippi River at the Tom Lee Memorial.
The tour also includes a behind-the-scenes stop at UrbanArt Commission, where participants will explore the organizational infrastructure behind the work, from artist opportunities and public investment to project management, partnerships, philanthropy, and long-term stewardship.
Together, the stops offer a look at public art not as a single type of object or intervention, but as a tool that can respond differently to the history, needs, identity, and possibilities of a place.
The tour is led by Lakeisha Edwards, Executive Director of UrbanArt Commission, the nonprofit organization that manages the City of Memphis Percent for Art Program and stewards the city’s public art collection.
Hosted by: Lakeisha Edwards (UrbanArt Commission)
Expectations: This cultural tour includes transportation by bus and multiple stops at sites throughout Memphis. Participants should expect periods of walking, standing, boarding and exiting the bus, and moving between indoor and outdoor spaces. Routes may include stairs, uneven surfaces, or varying distances between stops. GIA and our local partners will work to keep the group connected and ensure that all participants can engage meaningfully in the tour. Please share any mobility, seating, transportation, or other access needs with our team at GIAAccess2026@gmail.com.
Cost: $50